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- 36 -
AIR POLLUTION
(Smoke Abatement Officer - Mr. G. Stubbs)
An important feature of the figures recorded by the Council's
instruments was the considerable decrease in the amount of smoke.
There is little doubt that this result was mainly due to the continued
reduction in the consumption of domestic coal. There was also a general
decrease in the deposited matter both in the industrial and
residential areas of the Borough, and the sulphur dioxide figures
from the lead peroxide instruments and the daily volumetric apparatus
have shown an improvement.
During the year, several complaints were received of smoke from
the burning of trade wastes in incinerators. On investigation it was
generally found that the incinerators needed renovation or were being
overloaded. Two incinerators were renovated and one firm decided to
discontinue burning their trade wastes. Many of the smoke emissions
from factory chimneys were found to be due to excessive demands on
the boilers or to mechanical faults and in all cases the management
concerned took action to abate the nuisance.
An exhibit " Clean Air - Better Health " produced by the Central
Council for Health Education was on display in the main entrance of
the Central Library, Walworth Road, in April, and was an extremely
useful piece of publicity.
A meeting was held at the Town Hall on 15th September, 1960, to
ascertain the up-to-date position in regard to the availability of
smokeless fuels. Mr. Councillor H. Stillman presided at the meeting.
Representatives of the National Coal Board, South East Gas Board,
Solid Smokeless Fuels Federation, Society of Coal Merchants, local
merchants and the Press were present.
The general conclusion arising from the discussion was that
there was a sufficient supply of smokeless fuels to meet the demands
of any smoke control areas likely to be established in the Borough
within the foreseeable future, provided such fuels as Sebrite, Gloco,
Cleanglow, etc. were acceptable as well as Coalite and Rexco.
Arising from this report on the availability of smokeless fuels
the Council decided to proceed with a detailed survey of the area
bounded by Walworth Road, Trafalgar Street, Dawes Street, Portland
Street and Westmoreland Road, with the object of making a Smoke Control
Order. Provisional approval had been given by the Minister of
Housing and Local Government to the proposal in 1958. The area is
mainly residential and covers 38 acres. A detailed house to house
survey of the area is now in progress and the response by the residents
has so far been one of general approval.